Go to Vanipedia | Go to Vanisource | Go to Vanimedia


Vaniquotes - the compiled essence of Vedic knowledge


Accepting Krsna as the spiritual master means

Expressions researched:
"accepting Krsna as the spiritual master means"


Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Here, accepting Kṛṣṇa as the spiritual master means whatever Kṛṣṇa will decide, he has to accept. One cannot deny the order of a spiritual master. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you'll not commit a mistake.


Lecture on BG 2.7-11 -- New York, March 2, 1966:

Prabhupāda: Now, the idea of accepting spiritual master, that is also very obligatory. You see? As soon as you accept one as the spiritual master . . . first of all, we have recorded in your . . . you have heard it, that acceptance of spiritual master must be selected, you see, after careful examination, just like one selects his bride or bridegroom after careful examination. And in India they are very careful, because the marriage of the boys and girls take place under the guidance of the parents. So the parents very carefully see.

So similarly, if one has to . . . the acceptance of spiritual master is necessary. According to Vedic injunction, one . . . everyone should have a spiritual master. Perhaps you have seen a sacred thread. We have got sacred thread. Mr. Cohen, you have . . . this kind of . . . sacred thread. That sacred thread is the sign that this person has his spiritual master, has a spiritual master. Just like—here, of course, there is no such distinction—a married girl, according to Hindu system, they have got some sign so that people can understand, "This girl is married." They put on a red, I mean to say, painting here so that others know that "This girl is married." And, according to . . . what is called this? The division of the hair? What is this line, you call?

Young man: Part.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Young man: Part.

Prabhupāda: What is the spelling?

Young man: To part.

Prabhupāda: To part. This parting, this parting is also . . . there is some meaning. When the parting is here, in the middle, then that girl has her husband and she is coming from respectable family. And if the, I mean to say, partition is here, then she is a prostitute. You see? A prostitute cannot . . . there was king's ruling that a prostitute cannot (laughs) part here. And then again, when a girl is well dressed, then it should be considered that she has got her husband at home. And when she is not well dressed, then it should be understood that her husband is out of home. You see? And a widow's dress . . . there are so many, there are symptoms.

So similarly, this thread, sacred thread, is a sign that this person has accepted somebody as his spiritual master. He has got his . . . just like this red mark symbolizes that, "This girl has her husband," similarly, this sacred thread is the symbol that, "This man has got his spiritual master." So there is a ceremony. You see?

So according to Vedic system, one has to accept a spiritual master in order to make a solution of his life. In every step of his life the spiritual master guides him. He also makes question to the spiritual master and he guides him so that he will . . . his life, his progress of life, may be systematic.

Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? Now, here Arjuna knows that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the perfect person. So therefore he is accepting Him as śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam (BG 2.7): "I am just surrendering unto You, You self, Yourself, and You accept me as Your disciple, because friendly talks cannot make a solution of the perplexity." Friendly talks may be going on for years together, but there is no solution. Here, accepting Kṛṣṇa as the spiritual master means whatever Kṛṣṇa will decide, he has to accept.

One cannot deny the order of a spiritual master. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you'll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.

Page Title:Accepting Krsna as the spiritual master means
Compiler:Rishab
Created:09 of Oct, 2012
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1